Onward. I mentioned recently that I have, in cowardly fashion, ordered some new dps. Both yesterday and today I got a package in the mail which was just the right size and consistency, and both packages were something to do with Christmas, nothing to do with knitting. Maybe I had better take some time for a Serious Search, for there is now no hope at all from the postman until Monday. I’m sure I’ve got suitable needles somewhere. Two circulars work fine, but it’s slow going. I’ve finished another stripe.

 

I had a good Italian lesson this morning, and a good Zoom session with my sister at midday. She thinks women chess players will be as good as the very grandmaster-y best in a few more years. I’m not so sure. But since neither of us will live to find out, there’s no use fretting about it. She and her husband are going to stay away from their beloved (and nearby) grandsons at Christmas, but will invite some friends from the retirement community to join them for the day.

 

I was flattened by Italian, as usual, and the weather was filthy. I persuaded Helen to let me not go for a walk.

 

She is slightly worried about the vaccine, because the system is completely different from anything we've had before. She doesn’t expect to be offered it before February. Mass inoculation should be well under way in Britain by then, which will provide more evidence. US regulators, I seem to remember, never approved thalidomide; British ones did.

 

I had a good go at on-line Christmas shopping today, and have pretty well finished as much of the job as I intend to do. Not quite.

 

Barbara Pym “A Few Green Leaves” continues to sooth and amuse. I’m glad you agree with my contemporary identification of Lord Copper in “Scoop”, Mary Lou. And thank you for the information about withers.